Electric conductor.



0.1. E. WAXBOM. ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16. 1910. RENEWED JUNE 17, 1915- 1,-169,21 1. Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wwmaooeo THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

(1.1. E. WAXBOM.

ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-16,1910. RENEWED 1u .1915- 1,169,211. atented Jan. 916.

3 SHEETS-SHE 2- RAPII c0.. WASHINGTON, u. c.

C. J. E. WAXBOM.

E m CONDUCTOR.

APPLICATION FILED. 6 1910- RENEWED JUNE 17, 19M.

Pat

ente n. 25, 1916.

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CARL J. E. WAXBOM, COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOE TO THE JEFFREY MANUFAC- [CURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, EH6.

Application filed December is, 1910, sewn No. 597,640. Renewed June 1?, 1915. Serial no. 34,740.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL J E. VVAXBOM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Conductors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawin 1 This invention relatesto improvements in electric conductors of the class adapted to supply current to electric locomotives or motor cars by means of trolleys attached to the locomotive or car and engaging the conductor.

My invention is especially adapted for use in coal or other similar mines, and one of its principal objects is to provide a conductor of this class which ,may be cheaply and quickly put in place, and which may be readily extended in small increments as occasion may require.

In the mining of coal by the well known room and pillar method, a main entry is opened, and from this main entry a number of side entries lead off at right angles. With these side entries are connected the ,rooms from which the coal is to be removed. Tracks are ordinarily laid in the main and side entries, and from the side entry tracks, spurs lead off into the various rooms. It has heretofore ordinarily been found impracticable onaccount of the cost, and: on account of the time required to provide trolley wires leading into-the rooms to supply current to locomotives on the spur tracks. In fact, in many .casesno trolley wires are provided in the side entries. In order to handle cars on the side entry and room tracks, use has been made of either crab or cable reel locomotives. A crab locomotive is distinguished by a winding drum provided with a cable which may be carried into a room or a sideentry and attached to a car. The cable is then wound upon the drum and the car hauled out of the room or side entry. A cable reel locomotive is provided with a reel upon which is wound an electric cable which may be attached to a trolley wire or other source of electric energy in the main entry. As the locomotive advances into a side entry or into a room, the cable is unwound, at the same time supplying current for the locomotive.

hen the locomotive returns from a room or side entry, the cable is wound uponthe drum, current being still supplied to the locomotive through it.

Locomotives provided with devices such asI have outlined, while satisfactory for many classes of "work, have been found nevertheless to be quite expensive not only as to first cost, but also as to maintenance. My invention provides a conductor which can be cheaply and quickly mounted in a mine to serve the function of an ordinary trolley wire and which obviates the necessity of using locomotivesprovided with a crab or cable reelmechanism. I

In carrying out my invention, the side entries of a mine can, if desired, be provided with a trolley wire of the ordinary type,

and, electric conductors embodying my invention can be used in conjunction with the spur tracks leading into the mine rooms.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated theforms of my invention which I at present consider preferable, but it will be understood that my invention is not.

limited to the particular details of construction which I have shown, and that numerous modifications may be made.

Figure 1 shows in cross section a side entry and a part of a room connected with the side, entry. The room is provided with a spur track and with conductors embodying my invention. A locomotive with two cars is shown entering the room. Fig. 2 is a side view of parts of two conductor sections embodying one form of my invention. Fig. 3 is a plan view partly in cross section of the construction shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing another form of my invention. Fig. 5 is a plan view partly in cross section of the construction shown in 4. Fig. (Sis a side elevation showing still another form of my invention. Fig. 7

r is a plan view partly in cross section showing the construction shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an end view showing a modified form of my invention adapted to be directly attached to the roof of a mine Fig. 9 is a side view of the construction shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents a track laid in a side entry of a mine.

2 represents a spur track laid from the track 1 into a mine room.

3 represents a trolley wirewhich may be side of the track 2.

of the usual construction and which may be supported in the usual manner. This is mounted in the side entry to supply current to locomotives on the track 1. Such alocomotive is indicated in the drawings by at and is shown connected with minecars 5 and 6, the cars being on the track 2 leading.

into the room.

7, 7 represent mine posts of the usual type which serve to support the roof of the m ne: These are preferably equally spaced at one When the form of my invention, illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, is used, h0llow cylindrical insulators 8, 8 are secured to the posts in vertical positions, preferably two on each. One convenient means for mounting the insulators is to provide them with circumferential'grooves 9, 9, and to provide staples 10,10 which may be driveninto the posts and embrace the insulator-sat the grooves. Conductor bars 11, 11 are provided of suitable length to reach from one post to the next. These bars are, for the sake of rigidity and cheapness, preferably formed of iron or steel. Each end of each bar is doubled backupon itself as shown in the drawings, and then bent vertically upward. The upward bent ends are adapted to extend through thecentral apertures of adjacent insulators 8, 8 and are provided with threads upon which are screwed nuts 12, 12, which serve to hold the bars or sections in place. The adjacent bends or necks of adjacent sections may be'electrically connected by being wrapped with a conductor wire as shown at 13.

Connection may be made between thetrol ley wire of the side entry and the series of conductor sections in the room by means of a special conductor bar or section, such as is indicated in Fig. 1 by 11. If preferred, however, connection may be made to the conductor sections in the room independently by means of a separate conductor, such as is shown in Figs. 2 and 8, and indicated by 14.

It will be understood that as coal is removed from a room and as the face of a room advances, additional'nosts 7 are put in place from time totime. When a new I post isputin position, an additional conductor bar may be added to those already in place, and connected in the manner which has been described.

which permits the locomotives'to enter the rooms and handle the cars directly without the use of crab or cable reel devices.

Referring to'the construction shown in Figs. 4 and '5, 7, 7 represent mine posts. 15, 15 are insulatorssecured to the posts by means of horizontal lag screws 16, 16. The insulators are provided with vertical slots of suitable shape to permit the reception of In this way a readily .extendible conductor system is provided substantially as set forth.

two parallel conductor bar ends. The bars 17, 17 are provided with upturned ends and these ends extend through the slots in the insulators. If desired, sleeves or bushings 18, 18 may surround the lower parts of I mine post," asbefore. 20 is a circumferentially grooved insulator secured to apost by means of a horizontal lag screw 21. 22,

22 are conductor bars having their adjacent L p-turned portions bent in circular arcs to conform to and engage with a suitable circumferential groove in the insulator 20. The upper ends of the u-p-turned portions are bent back to form hoo'ks 23. These hooks 1 are connected by means of a wrapping of conductor wire 24. A'similarwrapping of conductor wire 25 is provided below the grooved part of the tip-turned portions.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a form of my invention which is adapted to be directly connected with a mine roof and which may be mounted entirely independently of the posts. 26 represents a vertical pin which is semi-circular in cross section, and which is provided with teeth 27. 28 is a second pin similar to '26, butwithout teeth. In securing the'pins in place, 26' is first inserted in a suitable hole drilled in the roof of the mine, and then 28 is driven intothe hole; The engagement-of the pin 28 with the pin 26 forces the teeth 27 into engagement with the side ofthe hole and both pins are thus firmly locked in place. The lower end of the pin 26 is provided with a horizontal part 29. Upon this part 29 there is mounted an insulator 30 similarto that shown in Figs. 6 and 7. This insulator may be secured in place by means ofa cotter pin 31. The conductor bars 32, 32 are similar to those shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and are similarly secured to the insulator by means of wrappingsof conductor wire 33 and 34. What I claim is 1 1.'I1'l a conductor of the class described,

the combination of'a series of conductor sec- 1 it tions each consistingof a single rod substantially inflexible under its own weight, means for forming fixed electrical connections directly between the adjacent ends of adjacent sections, and means for rigidly supporting the said sections solely at their ends,

2. In a conductor of the class described, I

the combination of a series ofconductor seetions each consisting of a single rod substantially inflexible under its own Weight, fixed but readily disconnectible means for formingv electrical connections directly between the adjacent ends of adjacent sections, and means for rigidly supporting the said sections solely at their ends, the said supporting means being adapted to permit the sections to be readily attached thereto or detached therefrom, substantially as set; forth.

3. In a conductor of the class described, the combination of a series of conductor sections each consisting of a single metallic rod substantially inflexible under its oWn Weight and each having its end parts bent at angles to the main part, means for electrically connecting the said end parts, and devices for supporting the sections by means of the said end parts, substantially as set forth.

4;. In a conductor of the class described, the combination of a series of conductor sections each substantially inflexible under its own weight and each having its end parts bent at angles to the main part, devices for supporting the sections by means of the said end parts, and means for electrically connecting the adjacent endparts of each tWo' adjacent sections comprising a flexible conductor Wire Wrapped about the said adjacent end parts, substantially as set forth. I

5. In a conductor of the class described, the combination of a series of alined conductor sections each substantially inflexible under its own Weight and each having its end parts bent at angles to the main part, devices for supporting the sections by means of the said end parts, and means for electrically connecting adjacent sections comprising a flexible conductor Wire engaging with each of them, substantially as set forth.

6. In a conductor of the class described, the combination of a series of conductor sections each having its end parts bent at angles to the main part, devices for supporting the sections by means of the said end parts, and means for electrically connecting the adjacent end parts of each two adjacent'sections comprising a flexible conductor Wire wrapped about the said adjacent end parts,

CARL J. E. WVAXBOM.

WVitnesses:

DUDLEY T. FISHER, ETHEL ELLIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

